52 EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 
when dry. If the weather is dull it takes her some time 
to build her nest, but if it is dry and fine she runs it up 
quickly, working most dexterously at it early in the morn- 
ing. She lines it internally with straw, hay, and feathers, 
and returns to the same nesting-place year after year, some- 
times to find her cosy little nest occupied by sparrows. 
She lays four or five eggs, white, the yolk giving them 
a slight pinky tinge, unspotted. 
ee 
J THE HEDGE-SPARROW. 
Tue Hedge-sparrow’s favourite nesting-place is in haw- 
thorn hedges, the nest is also found in furze-bushes, low 
shrubs, laurels, &c., and is composed of straw, dried grass, 
moss, and wool, lined with hair. The eggs are four or 
five in number, of a beautiful greenish-blue. 
THE DIPPER. 
Tue Dipper, or Water Ouzel as it is called in some dis- 
tricts, builds her nest in such splendid harmony with its 
surroundings that it is very difficult to find. Itis gene- 
rally placed near to some waterfall, and very often behind 
it, so that the bird has to fly through the water on entering 
and leaving her nest. It is also found in caves, underneath 
the arches of bridges, and I have even found one in a tree. 
The exterior is composed of aquatic mosses, and the interior 
beautifully lined with dry leaves. Dippers’ nests are 
